Volveréis - Ein fast klassischer Liebesfilm (The Other Way Around, Volveréis)
Spain/France 2024

Opening 8 May 2025

Directed by: Jonás Trueba
Writing credits: Jonás Trueba, Itsaso Arana, Vito Sanz, Fernando Trueba
Principal actors: Vito Sanz, Itsaso Arana, Fernando Trueba, Andrés Gertrúdix, Francesco Carril

After fifteen years of living together in Madrid, Spain, Ale (Itsaso Arana), a filmmaker, and her significant other, actor Alex (Vito Sanz), who she is directing, have made an unusual decision: they are separating. But instead of letting it become a painful, dramatic moment, they choose to celebrate it. Inspired by a joke from Ale’s father (Antonio Trueba), they decide to throw a big party to mark the end of their relationship: “Just like a wedding, but the other way around!”. While Ale and Alex see this as a natural progression, their friends and family struggle to understand. How can a breakup be something joyous, something commemorated with laughter instead of tears? From one phone call to the next, from one meeting to the next, Ale and Alex explain their reasons, justify their choices, and attempt to reassure their loved ones. The film revolves around this repetitive structure: similar conversations, recurring doubts, and slightly varied responses, with scenes that are sometimes mischievously taken from the same film Volveréís within the film that Ale is directing.

In Volveréis, director Jonás Trueba explores the complexity of human relationships—romantic, friendly, and familial. He carefully examines how love relationships evolve, how they intensify or fade over time. The film captures these interactions by immersing the viewer in the intimate moments of Ale and Alex’s imperfect journey. Jonás Trueba’s camera acts as a silent witness, presenting the places and the protagonists as they are, unvarnished. The film’s emotional depth is enhanced by its main cast, Itsaso Arana and Vito Sanz, whose performances are effortlessly authentic. Both actors have appeared in Jonás Trueba’s best-known film, The August Virgin (2019) as well as his previous feature, You Have to Come and See It (2022).

Despite its charm and intellectual depth, Volveréis does suffer from some pacing issues. The repetitive nature of its dialogue can feel drawn out in the second half, slightly diminishing its momentum. This repetition is not accidental—it mirrors how people process their relationships, seeking validation, revisiting decisions, and oscillating between certainty and hesitation. In fact, the Spanish title Volveréis (literally meaning “You’ll come back”) may imply a return to a previous place or state. Within this self-reflective structure, Jonás Trueba poses profound questions: Can love be transformed rather than lost? Can separation be as meaningful as staying together?

Volveréis remains a touching and beautifully rendered reflection on love. With this new feature, Jonás Trueba won the Label Europa Cinemas prize at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. (Brigitte Bernard-Rau)